R&B phenom Beyoncé Knowles has released a statement on her website regarding the death of blues singer Etta James. Knowles, who portrayed the legendary vocalist in 2008's Cadillac Records stated:

This is a huge loss. Etta James was one of the greatest vocalists of our time. I am so fortunate to have met such a queen. Her musical contributions will last a lifetime. Playing Etta James taught me so much about myself, and singing her music inspired me to be a stronger artist. When she effortlessly opened her mouth, you could hear her pain and triumph. Her deeply emotional way of delivering a song told her story with no filter. She was fearless, and had guts. She will be missed. READ MORE

Sorry kids, it looks as though Barbara Walters was trying her comedy routine out on President Barack Obama. TMZ reports the veteran journalist is not headed for retirement, despite her statement when interviewing the President. Senior Vice President of ABC News Jeff Schneider told the site:

Barbara has joked that she is retiring every year since the Clinton Administration. Anyone who just did a day trip to Syria, 90-minute prime time special and an interview with the President and First Lady hardly sounds like someone retiring from anything.

Did Babs pull an okey doke on Obama to snag an interview? When TMZ asked Schneider if Walters exaggerated in order to do so, he laughed and stated:

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Say it ain't so, Babs! TMZ is reporting Barbara Walters may be hanging up her mic for good next year (Editor's Note: Shoulda happened five years ago). The site claims Walters had just finished interviewing President Barack Obama when the announcement slipped out. TMZ alleges while Walters was taking a break from shooting the interview, she leaned over and said to the Prez, 

I need one more interview with you because I'm retiring next year." 

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It may have gotten a wee bit lost in the news cycle this morning, but Donald Trump confirmed to Bloomberg that he will run for President in 2012. However, he says he can't make an official announcement until after The Celebrity Apprentice season is over. One wonders what a statement to Bloomberg consists of then if not an official announcement? Trump didn't specify that he would be seeking the Republican nomination but that route is strongly implied, given his unofficial campaign thus far. Here's what said:

“In my mind, I have already decided. I am going to announce. But I can’t do anything until the show ends. [I will focus on] “making our country rich and respected. The OPEC nations will be acting much differently, and fuel prices will go down and the economy will become strong again,” Trump said. “They may like me or not like me, but nobody will be ripping us off.” 
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Deadline reports that at the Annual White House Correspondent's Dinner, President Obama showed he had a comedic side (or at least a good team of comedy writers).  The President roasted Donald Trump -- who had previously claimed Obama wouldn't dare take him on -- by poking fun at his reality show, and saying that Trump would focus "on the issues that matter. For example, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?"

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Matt Damon was one of President Obama's biggest supporters during the 2008 electoral campaign, but now the Oscar-winning actor says he is no longer a fan. In an interview with CNN's Piers Morgan, Damon criticizes Obama for—in the actor's opinion—not addressing poverty,  mishandling the war in Afghanistan, and not initiating any meaningful reform on Wall Street. When asked point blank if he was still a fan of the President, the actor replied "no" and went on to articulate his grievances:

"He (Obama) misinterpreted his mandate. He's doubled down on a lot of things. In his State of the Union he didn't even say the word 'poverty,' You've got millions of people languishing in it. [I] definitely wanted more."

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